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Perhaps today, more than even a month ago, we can see the reason for a call to go to our knees in prayer to repent on behalf of Canada, and to call out to the Lord to have mercy on our nation.

Initially, the impetus for this came from reflecting on the darkness of the rampant “culture of death” that has spread its tentacles across our nation—through unbridled, unrestricted abortion and physician-assisted suicide, and the coercive tactics used to pressure individuals to choose MAiD as a solution not only to health challenges but to an array of social challenges, from poverty to lack of appropriate housing and other issues that can be resolved if the choice is there for service agencies to advocate and come alongside those facing such situations to resolve them.

Now, with the loss of life at Tumbler Ridge, BC, we have added to the mix situations where individuals, feeling such a degree of isolation and alienation, turn on their own family and community, and on themselves, becoming agents of death in such a horrific, tragic fashion.

Scripture says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Ps. 33:12)

As a nation, Canada has turned away from the holiness of God, adopting and embracing attitudes and practices that grieve the heart of God. We as believers must be the ones to go to our knees and call out to God for forgiveness on behalf of this nation that we are citizens of, and to beg His mercy so that His favour might be restored to Canada and to us, so that we might all live “…peaceable lives” (1 Tim. 2:2) as citizens of this nation.

We began our call for 40 days of prayer and penance starting on Ash Wednesday to coincide with the season of Lent, based on Joel 2:12–13a, 14a:

Yet, even now, says the Lord, return to Me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
And return to the Lord, your God.
…
Perhaps He will again relent,
And leave behind Him a blessing.

Therefore let us pray:

Lord God, You who are merciful and just,
who have created us in your image and likeness,
and called us to live in holiness and righteousness,
we have sinned against you, as a Nation,
in acceding to the death-dealing of abortion
and euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide,
blatantly transgressing your Law
that we are not to commit murder.

Forgive us, Lord, and remove the stain
of the sin of shedding innocent blood
that has polluted the land
and seeded darkness and death into our cultural fabric.

Forgive us for the hardness of our hearts,
for harbouring antagonism, hostility, hatred and blame
towards those whose views differ from ours.

For Charles King and the students at Saint John Paul II Academy, the presence of the Shroud of Turin Exhibition is elevating their Lenten experience beyond ordinary fasting and sacrifice, deepening their reflection on the suffering Christ endured through his Passion.

The exhibit, making what could be its final appearance in Vancouver while organizers look for a permanent home, includes a life-sized replica of the Shroud of Turin, the ancient cloth imprinted with the image of a crucified man believed by many to be Jesus. It also includes replicas of items associated with Christ’s Passion, such as nails, a crown of thorns, and the spear that pierced his side.

During Lent, the exhibit is capturing students’ imagination about the meaning of Easter. “It’s really helped us to reflect on the Crucifixion,” King told The B.C. Catholic. “Just seeing the shroud and the crown of thorns and even the nail that Jesus may have been pierced with—it’s a really special invitation to reflect on [his Passion].” 

The exhibit has given King a reminder to pick up his own cross and follow Christ. “Everyone has to carry the cross, especially during Lent,” he said. “If Jesus carried such a heavy cross for us, then we should also follow him and offer up parts of our lives that are difficult.”

That the actual identity of the shroud is uncertain simply adds a valuable element of faith to the experience for King, who says “it’s fitting that there is some sort of ambiguity to the shroud, because after all he’s God and there’s supposed to be mystery there.”

For King, the shroud exhibit is the perfect Lenten feature during the school’s first year in its new building, which opened in September.

“The fact that the shroud is here for our first Lent at our new school is cool because it’s building this culture of strong Catholic faith,” he said.

In addition to the exhibit, students will hear from shroud expert Dr. Cheryl White, who has studied and spoken about the famed burial cloth for over 30 years.

The exhibit typically visits churches, and to have it in a school is a special gift, she said. “All day during your school day, it’s accessible!”

Speaking about the shroud with younger students only became a focus of her career in the past decade, and the experience has been rewarding. The shroud is “a unique intersection between faith and reason,” she said.

Speaking moments before hundreds of catechumens and candidates signed their names in the Book of the Elect in anticipation of baptism and Confirmation at Easter, Archbishop Richard Smith addressed the doubts some might feel as they prepare to become Catholic.

Speaking at the Rite of Election, held over two days to accommodate the historically high number of people seeking entrance and communion in the Church, the archbishop referenced the Gospel reading of Christ’s temptations in the desert, highlighting the devil’s role in raising doubts that may plague those coming into the Church.

“Here, the devil is seducing Jesus away from fidelity to the will of his Heavenly Father,” Archbishop Smith told those gathered at Holy Rosary Cathedral on Feb. 22. “These same temptations can beset those who are chosen to follow Jesus. We need to be aware of them and resist them with the help of God’s grace.”

Such temptations can’t be overcome by our will alone, he said. “Jesus alone is able to stand steadfast against the evil one, and he gives you—he gives us all—a share in his strength, so that we too, [in Christ], can also overcome [the devil].”

A day earlier, another Rite of Election was held at St. Matthew’s in Surrey, where, like the cathedral, the pews were filled with soon-to-be Catholics and their sponsors.

Archbishop Smith assured about 650 catechumens and nearly 120 candidates seeking Confirmation that becoming Catholic has “nothing to do with personal merits or worthiness,” and that the love of God makes them worthy.

“You’re chosen by God to follow his Son to eternal life. Today, God, through the Church, elects you to celebrate Easter sacraments so that through those sacraments, you’ll be united to Jesus and become a member of his Church.”

As new Catholics, they will also be “surrounded and supported by the Church,” he said. “We look forward with great anticipation to welcoming you among the community of disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The Archbishop also reflected on the meaning of the word election, saying it’s usually thought of as making a personal choice. “In this sacred moment, the Rite of Election highlights a reverse dynamic,” he said. “You’re not choosing, you are chosen—the one electing you is God.”

“God bases this choice not upon any merits you have for having considered and weighed what you propose to do, but solely on the basis of his wondrous love for you.”

Why would one of the most well-known evangelical pastors in the world speak at a Catholic conference? In this inspiring and wide-ranging interview, Pastor Rick Warren—founder of Saddleback Church and a leading voice in global evangelization—explains why unity among all Christians is essential to completing the Great Commission. 

With deep respect for the Catholic Church and its 1.3 billion members, Pastor Rick shares his vision for the year 2033: the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church’s birth, and the giving of the Great Commission. 

He discusses how Christians of all traditions—Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, and Pentecostals—can work together to share the Gospel with every person on earth. He reflects on the power of prayer, the richness of diverse worship styles, and the need for humility and mutual respect across denominational lines. 

Pastor Rick also highlights the spiritual hunger he sees among Gen Z and the hope he believes the Church must offer in today’s world. Don’t miss this extraordinary testimony of faith, unity, and mission from one of today’s most influential Christian leaders.

What defines you? Your failures? Your past? Or something far greater? In this powerful reflection, Fr. Malachy CFR shares a moving story from prison ministry in Nicaragua—a woman buried under shame, convinced she was beyond love—until God’s mercy broke through. Discover what happens when we allow ourselves to be seen through the Father’s eyes, not our own distorted reflection.

Few phenomena have ushered in a greater sea change in mass communication and human relations than social media. What at once allows us to connect with family, meet new friends, and engage with (not simply observe) the world around us can also create enormous tensions, foster disinformation, and cultivate loneliness. Is social media a blessing or a curse? And how can Catholics tap into its evangelizing power without losing their own souls?